Hamble River Sailing Club to Celebrate Centenary in 2019
by Trevor Pountain 4 Feb 2019 14:03 GMT
Davanti Tyres wins Class 1 in the HYS Hamble Winter Series 2018 © Paul Wyeth /
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HRSC is oldest surviving sailing club in the village, and indeed, on the Hamble River. Originally founded in August 1919, by a group of seven Hamble men "to encourage the sport of small boat sailing and racing" it follows much the same philosophy today.
The founders were determined that the club would provide sailing opportunities for all those who lived and worked in all the parishes along the banks of the Hamble River. At first there was no clubhouse just a wooden storage hut in the kitchen garden of the "Bugle Inn". The connection to "The Bugle" remains to this day as they are one of the sponsors for the Hamble Winter Series.
The "X" one-design class established a fleet at Hamble in 1928, and this year they celebrate 90 years of racing at the club. The popularity of dinghy sailing accelerated during the late 50's and the list of club members and their sailing achievements over the next twenty years made the HRSC one of the premier sailing clubs in the U.K. Many of today's leading yacht designers, mast manufacturers and sail-makers learnt their skills in the dinghy classes at Hamble River S. C. This era reached a peak in 1972 when six of the 13-man Great Britain Olympic sailing team were Hamble River members and brought back a Gold and Silver medal.
As yacht and small boat ownership became more affordable, keelboat racing joined the Wednesday and Saturday dinghy racing scene, with 30 boats regularly turning out in the 70's and 80's. Perhaps the greatest single advance in club yacht racing has been the development of the Hamble Winter Series. Started in the early 80's this has now grown into the premier Autumnal series in the U.K. sailing calendar. With 150 plus entries each year, this event provides racing for hardy club members and all the serious yacht racers based in Hamble, Southampton and Cowes.
The club is also home to the ubiquitous Foxer Fleet. Their red white and black sails have become part of river life and they can be found on Friday evenings in the season, and all year on Sunday lunchtimes, beating and running up and down the Warsash pool opposite the club.
The club has built up a strong cadet section for member's children, and a very busy RYA Training Centre, which caters for children and adults from all over the region. The six week summer holiday is packed with courses and regularly oversubscribed. New this year is the adoption of Stand-up Paddle Boarding (SUP).
To celebrate the Centenary the club has devised an exciting programme of events. This will be kicked off by the Centenary Hamble Warming Pan Dinghy Open Meeting. The full programme is as follows:
- 9th & 10th March 2019 - Centenary Hamble Warming Pan, for Merlin Rocket, Fireflies, Foxer and PY classes.
- 23rd March 2019 - The Junior Warming Pan for under 18 year-olds. Oppies, Toppers, Fevas, Picos, Teras and PY.
- Saturday 18th May 2019 HRSC Centenary Open Fun Day All welcome.
- Friday to Sunday, 7th, 8th, 9th June 2019, HRSC Centenary Regatta.
- Friday 7th 50+ Day Helms and crews to be 50 years and older.
- Saturday 8th Club Junior Racing Day.
- Sunday 9th Racing for IRC Classes, Club Handicap, XOD's and Foxers.
- Friday to Sunday 12th 14th July 2019, Club Members Cruise in Company
- Tuesday 6th August 2019 Founders Day an evening event beginning with a sail past and followed by prizes, mementos and cake!
- Saturday 5th October to Sunday 1st December 2019 - Centenary HYS Hamble Winter Series.
- Saturday 8th December 2019 Centenary Prize Giving and Party.
Further information can be found at: www.hrsc.org.uk